idylmoments
10-25-2002, 08:00 PM
8 of us just returned from Underwood, North Dakota. I can't describe the flights of geese that Lake Audobon was holding. Flocks of lessors stretched for more than a mile over the skyline. 10's of thousands. The locals said that the main migration hadn't even begun, that the giants and mallards were still holding to the north.
5 days of hunting produced 4 limit hunts. The off day we slept in to recover from hunting/drinking and still managed 20 birds in the afternoon. One small slew alone produced 48 widgeon, gadwell, teal and mallards. They came in to 9 decoys. 4 of us limited on geese in about and hour one morning, then shot a limit of ducks out of the same field the next day. While most water froze tight during the week (the temp never got above 25) there were plenty of fields to hunt. We ate some and quit when we were supposed to, especially after hearing about the idiots who got caught with 300 birds. 6 of the guys split off and went south for pheasants, easily limiting.
It took a lot of work and time scouting (we put on an additional 800 miles during the week), especially now that a lot of fields are posted, but it all paid off. There were far more hunters than I expected, especially on the weekend. Alot were hunting pheasants and like anywhere, most were lazy and hunted close to town. The people in town and the farmers we met couldn't have been more nice. We were denied access to a couple of areas, and one of our friends had a run in with a farmer who doesn't like NR's, but overall what a great state. I can still hear the feathers tearing the air, cupped and coming in. Waterfowling like it's supposed to be. My face hurts from this cheesy grin I've been wearing for a week.
5 days of hunting produced 4 limit hunts. The off day we slept in to recover from hunting/drinking and still managed 20 birds in the afternoon. One small slew alone produced 48 widgeon, gadwell, teal and mallards. They came in to 9 decoys. 4 of us limited on geese in about and hour one morning, then shot a limit of ducks out of the same field the next day. While most water froze tight during the week (the temp never got above 25) there were plenty of fields to hunt. We ate some and quit when we were supposed to, especially after hearing about the idiots who got caught with 300 birds. 6 of the guys split off and went south for pheasants, easily limiting.
It took a lot of work and time scouting (we put on an additional 800 miles during the week), especially now that a lot of fields are posted, but it all paid off. There were far more hunters than I expected, especially on the weekend. Alot were hunting pheasants and like anywhere, most were lazy and hunted close to town. The people in town and the farmers we met couldn't have been more nice. We were denied access to a couple of areas, and one of our friends had a run in with a farmer who doesn't like NR's, but overall what a great state. I can still hear the feathers tearing the air, cupped and coming in. Waterfowling like it's supposed to be. My face hurts from this cheesy grin I've been wearing for a week.